Mineral wool forming apparatus



Dec. 2, 1941. G. T. PEARCE MINERAL WOOL FORMING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 3, 1937 INVENTOR ff; fpe'zecs.

TTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE MINE WOOL FORMING APPARATUS -Gale '1. Pearce, Somerville, N. 3.; assignor to 1 Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New .York

Original application September 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,304. Divided and this application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 327,073. In Canada August 4 Claims.

discharging the molten material in the form of a stream. The stream is blasted by a jet of fluid issuing from a nozzle at high velocity and is thereby converted into fibers, which are suspended in the fluid and directed to a suitable collecting means.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a mineral wool forming apparatus which will produce a more complete fiberization of the stream of molten mineral wool forming material than has heretofore been obtainable.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means in an apparatus of the type referred to which will permit ofready and accurate adjustment of the flberizing nozzle to follow the meander of the stream of molten material issuing from the mineral wool melting furnace.

Other objects and advantages, if not specifically pointed out, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of what are now considered the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

'Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail View on an enlarged scale and partially in section taken on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a furnace 2 for melting the raw mineral wool forming material, such as slag or rock or mixtures thereof. The furnace illustratedis of the cupola type, but it is understood that it may take many different forms, any one of which is equally as applicable to the present invention as the cupola shown. The cupola 2 may be supported by a suitable framework 4 at an elevated position. The molten material is discharged fromthe cupola in the form of a stream 6 and is fiberized by the action of a steam jet or the like issuing from a nozzle 8. The nozzle illustrated is of an aspirating type, in which the stream of molten material is drawn into the nozzle and surrounded by steam jets which act on the molten material to fiberize the same. However, as will be understood, the invention to be particularly described below is equally applicable for use with other types of nozzles.

Nozzle 8 is connected to a movable section ill of a blow tube l2, which confines and directs the stream of newly formed fibres to a suitable collection apparatus (not shown). The blow tube It may be suitably attached to a frame It as by means of angle irons H3. The movable section [0 of the blow tube may be telescoped within the main body portion of the tube l2 and fit sufliciently loosely therein to enable it to be moved axially and angularly relatively to the main body portion. The loose connection between the movable section ill and the main body of the blow tube is provided by angle iron 20 connected to the movable section l0 and an angle 22 connected to the fixed main body porof the movable section 50 from the main body portion, while permitting limited movement therebetween. The movable section l0 issupported at its upper end by a linkage 26 which connects it with an adjustment device 28. Steam or compressed air is supplied to the nozzle-8, carried by section 10 by means of a pipe line 36 having a flexible section 38.

The linkage 26 consists of an arm 30, which is connected to the adjustment device 28 in a manner hereinafter described, a collar 32 which is suitably clamped to the movable section l0, and a link 34 which connects the arm 39 and the collar 32. Adjustment device 28 is mounted on a platform 40 which is supported by the framework l6. The platform 36 provides a station for an operator who can observe the stream 6 and move the nozzle 8 and the movable section (0 so as to follow the meandering of the stream by means of the adjustment device 28, now to be particularly described.-

The adjustment device is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The arm 30, to which the link34 is suitably articulated at one end, is

suitably threaded at its opposite end and screwed into a threaded aperture in a shaft 18. The shaft 18 is carried within a sleeve 18,. which is journaled in suitable bearing supports 80 and pre-- vented from longitudinal movement therein by sleeves 82, connected to the sleeve 18 on each side of each support 80 by means such as set screws 84. A clamping screw 88 is threaded into support 80 and may be manipulated to hold the sleeve 18 in any adjusted position. Sleeve 18 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening 88, which is sufficiently wide to enable the threaded end of the arm 30 to pass therethrough and is of suflicient length to enable the arm 38 and the shaft 18 to move axially of the sleeve 18 for a limited distance. The arm 80 passes through an opening 80 provided in the platform 40.

The shaft 16 is provided at one end with teeth which form a rack 92 which meshes with a pinion 84 carried by a stud shaft 98 which is journaled in a housing '88 suitably connected to or formed integrally with the sleeve 18. The stud shaft 88 has a hand lever I 88 attached thereto by suitable means such as a set screw I02.

In the operation of the adjustment device to adjust the position of the nozzle 8 in conformity with the meandering of the stream 8 of molten material, rotation of the hand lever Hill in either of the directions shown by the arrows in Fig. 2 causes the pinion 84 to be rotated, which, in turn, moves the rack 92 on the shaft 18 to cause endwise displacement of the shaft. The movement of the shaft 16 will cause the arm 30 to move longitudinally of the opening 88 within sleeve 18 and through the medium of the linkage 28 will cause the movable section ID of the blow tube and nozzle 8 to be moved across the front of the cupola 2 to position the nozzle as desired.

Movement of the hand lever I in either of the directions indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 4, after the clamping screw 88 has been loosened, will cause the sleeve 18 to rotate and, in turn, rotate the arm 30 through contact between the arm and the sides of the opening 88. Movement of arm 30 will cause the movable section I0 of the blow tube and nozzle 8 to be moved through the medium of linkage 28 towards and away from the cupola 2, as well as upwardly and downwardly as permitted by the loose connection between the movable section l0 and the main body l2 of the blow tube.

Thus, by the apparatus described, an operator on platform 40 can watch the stream of molten material 8 and through the adjustment device 28 just described, move the nozzle 8 and the attached movable section it so as to follow any meanderings of the stream 6.

The adjustment device may take other specific forms without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the subjoined claims, it being understood that the foregoing details have been given for the purpose of explanation and not limitation.

What I claim is:

1. Anapparatus for producing mineral wool, comprising means for forming a. stream of molten material, a blow tube including a movable section, a nozzle connected tothe movable section of said blow tube for directing a blast of fluid in proximity to said stream to convert the molten material into fibres, and means for simultaneously adjusting the position of said nozzle and movable blow tube section, said means comprising a rack, linkage connecting said rack and movable section in a manner to transmit movements of said rack to said movable section, and means for iongitudinally and laterally adjusting the position of said rack.

2. An apparatus for the production of mineral wool comprising a blow tube including a movable section and a stationary section, a nozzle connected to the movable section of said blow tube for directing a blast of fluid in proximity to a stream of molten mineral wool forming material to convert the molten material into fibres, and means for simultaneously adjusting the position of said nozzle and movable blow tube section relative to the meander of the stream and stationary section, said means comprising a member arranged for sliding and rotating movement and linkage connecting said member to said blow tube section.

3. A fiberizing means for use in the manufacture of mineral wool comprising a nozzle for directing a jet of gaseous fluid in proximity to a stream of molten mineral wool forming material for shredding the stream into fibres, a supply line for the gaseous material connected to said nozzle, and means for adjusting the position of said nozzle relatively to said stream of molten material, said means comprising a rack, linkage connecting the rack and nozzle in a manner to transmit movement of said rack to said nozzle, and means for adjusting the position of said rack.

4. A flberizing means for use in the manufacture of mineral wool comprising a nozzle for directing a jet of gaseous fluid in proximity to a stream of molten mineral wool forming material for shredding the stream into fibres, a supply line for the gaseous material connected to said nozzle, and means for adjusting the position of said nozzle relatively to said stream of molten material, said means comprising a rack, linkage connecting said rack and nozzle, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said rack, and means carried by said sleeve to move said rack longitudinally and to rotate said sleeve and rack.

GALE T. PEARCE. 

